Oar coupling



(No Model.)

J. T. HAUGH.

GAR COUPLING.

No. 386,818 Patented July 31, 1888.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN T. HAUGH, OF ESSA, SIMCOE COUNTY, ONTARIO, CANADA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 386,818, dated Jul 31.1888.

Application filed December 24, 1887. Serial No. 258.894. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN THOMAS HAUGH, of the township of Essa, in thecounty of Simcoe, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, laborer, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Couplers, of whichthe following is a specification.

The object of the invention is to design a simple device by which arailroad-car coupler may be made automatic in its operation, so as toavoid the necessity for a brakeman or other railroad employ endangeringhislifebystanding between the cars while they are being coupled; and itconsists, essentially, in pivoting within the mouth of the draw-head atongue bent to form a latch, and connected to a vertically-operatingframe working in vertical slots made in the draw-head and actuated by aspring arranged to form the tongue into a spring-lateh,\vhich willautomatically lock the coupling-link when it is inserted into the head,suitable appliances being provided by which the coupling link may beunlocked withoutany one endangering his life by entering between thecars, the whole being constructed and operated substantially ashereinafter more particularly explained.

Figure 1 is a perspective end view of aboxcar provided with my improvedcar-coupler. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation showing thecoupling link in the act of entering the draw-head. Fig. 3 is a similarView showing the coupling-link locked in the draw-head.

As the danger of coupling cars on railroads is now well recognized bythe public, it is not necessary for me to point out all the advantageswhich will accrue by the adoption of a selfacting car-coupler, which,being applicable to all classes of cars and capable of being coupledwith almost any style of coupler now in use, can be easily introducedand applied to all cars now in use.

In the drawings, A represents the end of an ordinary box-ear, on which adraw-head, B, is connected in the usual manner. This drawhead may bemade substantially in the shape now commonly used; but I do not confinemyself to the exact design shown.

C is a double-ended arrow-headed link of a form which I think mostsuitable for my carcoupler; but it will be understood that an ordinaryopen link might be adapted to answer in its stead.

D is a tongue bentsubstantially in the form shown and connected to thevertically-operating frame E by passing over a horizontal pin, a,inserted in the frame E, as shown. Thefront end of the tongue D ispivoted at b near the mouth of the draw-head B. Aspring, F, connected tothe bottom side of the draw-head B, extends over the bottom bar of theframe E, and is set so that its tension shall hold the frame E down inthe position shown in Fig. 3.

WVhen the head of the link 0 is inserted into the head B, as shown inFig. 2, it will naturally raise the inner end of the tongue D until thehead of the link has passed the said tongue, when, by the action of thespring F drawing the frame down, the inner end of the tongue D will beforced down behind the head of the link 0, the opposite side of the headof the said link 0 being forced down so as to project below the shoulderd, made in the draw-head B, as indicated. In this manner the link 0 willbe rigidly held in the draw-head 13 until the frame E is raised, whichaction not only lifts the tongue D clear of the link 0, but also, by itscross-bar e coming in contact with the bottom side of the head of thelink 0, raises the said link clear of the shoulder (Z, and therebypermits the said link 0 to be withdrawn from the draw-head B.

In order that the frame E maybe raised vertically without enteringbetween the car, I journal on the end of the car A a horizontal rod, G,and connect to it an arm, H, which is attached to the top of the frame Eby the chain I.

Hand-cranks J are formed at either end of the rod G, so that the saidrodG maybe operated from the side of the car. I also pivot on thefoot-board Ka crank-1evcr, L,whichIconnect either directly to the frameE or to the arm H, as shown, by a rod, M, the said cranklever being thusprovided, so that the link may be released from the top of the car.

In order that my coupler may be connected to an ordinary coupler I makea hole, N, in the coupler, and also one in the tongue D, so that a pinmay be inserted in the draw-head and used in the ordinary way.

I do not confine myself to the exact arrangement of the rods and leversdescribed, nor do 1 combination with the link C, arranged sub- I limitmyself to the exact designs of'the parts shown.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. A tongue, D, pivoted near the mouthof the draw-head B, and bent substantially as shown, so as to form alatch, as indicated, in combination with the vertically operating frameE, carrying one end of said tongue and actuated by the spring F,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. A vertically-operating frame, E, having a cross-bar, 6, formed in it,a spring, F, attached atone endto the underside of the drawhead andacting on said cross-bar, a tongue, D, pivoted at 1) near the mouth ofthe drawhead B, and bent substantially as shown, so as to extend overthe pin a in the frame E, in

stantially asand for the purpose specified.

3. A vertically-operating frame, E, having a cross-bar, 6, formed in itand actuated by a spring, F, a tongue, D, pivoted at 1) near the mouthof the draw-head B, and bent substantially as shown, so as to extendover the pin a 25 in the frame E, in combination with the link 0 and armH. connected to the frame E and operated by the rod G, substantially asand for the purpose specified.

Signed at Alliston this 2d day of December, go 1887.

JOHN T. HAUGH.

In presence of- J. It. CULVERSON,

GEO. MCGIRR.

